vol.40 June 2003

～Think Together about the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations～�

Trends in the Diet ■ House of Representatives� In the meeting of the Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organiza- tions of the House of Representatives (chaired by Mr. Hiroshi Nakai) on May 28, the "Interim Report on the Relocation National Diet and Related Organizations" was adopted and brought before the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Chairman Nakai also gave a presentation in the plenary session of the House� of Representatives on May 29.� Table of Contents of the "Interim Report on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations"� (Reference)� � 1. Discussion on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations (Pages 1-14)� � (Reference 1) Major discussion points in the Committee� (Reference 2) List of Committee activities� (Reference 3) Table of major discussion details� � 2. Important opinions, etc. expressed in the Committee (Pages 15-64)� � (1) Important opinions of the members.� (2) Important positive and negative opinions of expert witnesses� (3) Important statements of the Prime Minister and others� (Data) (Pages 65-148)� � � �

� Since the Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations was established in August 1991, many expert witnesses have been invited to the Committee to ex- press their opinions for or against the Relocation and to answer questions. There have been ques- tion and answer sessions with government officials and free discussion sessions, and delegations of the Committee members have been sent out to investigate. Through such activities, the Commit- tee has extensively studied the matter, in conformity with the Act for the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations. The Committee has examined the significance and impact of the Relocation, building a national consensus, expenses for the Relocation, changes in the social and economic circumstances, overseas cases of capital function relocations, candidate sites, and com- parison with .� In the final phase of the discussion after the Executive Committee's agreement in July 2002, some members expressed opinion that the Committee should immediately pass a resolution for the Relocation, but the Committee made a consensus that discussion on size, form, time and approach of the Relocation should be continued from fresh perspectives, taking the change in the social and economic circumstances into consideration. During the discussion, a new idea was presented that the National Diet and Related organizations should be relocated to several different locations in line with the Council's verdict.� In the discussions over the last twelve years, there were some parliamentary groups and Commit- tee members who expressed negative opinions, but the majority of the Committee has always been for implementing the Relocation. Most Committee members have stressed the significance and im- portance of the Relocation. The Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations has to be addressed by both Diet houses. We request both houses to proceed with discussion in close coop- eration in line with our Interim Report, so that a conclusion can be made.� � � * For further developments in the Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organi- zations of the House of Representatives, please refer to "Trends in the Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations" corner on the Web page of the Special Committee on Re- location of the National Diet and Related Organizations at http://www.shu-kokkaiten.go.jp.index2.html.

1 ■ House of Councillors� In the meeting of the Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organiza- tions of the House of Councillors, which was chaired by Mr. Soichiro Matsutani on June 11, the "Report on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations (Interim Report)" was adopted and brought before the President of the House of Councillors. Chairman Matsutani also gave a presentation in the plenary session of the House of Councillors on June 13.� � The Table of Contents of "the Report on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations� (Interim Report)"� � I Progress in the Special Committee (Pages 1-2)� II Summary of the Special Committee inquiries (Pages 3-34)� � 1. Hearing the government's presentation, hearing expert witnesses' opinions and fact- finding inquiries� 2. Outline of Committee members' statements� 3. Outline of expert witnesses' opinions� (1) Opinions of Prefectural Governors and economic organizations of the three candi- date sites and the opinions of the Governor of Tokyo� (2) Intellectuals' opinions� � III Conclusion (Page 35)� � � � � � The Special Committee on Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations has been conducting inquiries in line with the Resolution on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations (1990). Especially after the verdict of the Deliberative Council for the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations was presented to the Diet by the Prime Minister, the Committee conducted an intensive inquiry into the national consensus, social and economic cir- cumstances, and comparison with Tokyo, etc.� In the Committee, there were many opinions arguing that the Committee should decide the new location and the Relocation should be carried out immediately. Some also argued that the decision has to be made carefully, considering the present circumstance. Therefore, the Committee did not conclude whether the National Diet and Related organizations should be relocated immediately or not. Also, some parliamentary groups expressed negative opinions on the Relocation.� If, however, a large earthquake or other huge emergency strikes Tokyo before the problem of all government functions being centralized in Tokyo is solved, the central functions of will be suspended. This may naturally cause serious crises in Japan, and perhaps around the world. There- fore, The majority of the members agued that it is inappropriate to allow such over-concentration of central government functions in Tokyo and that some central functions, especially those concerned with disaster and emergency management, should be relocated immediately.� Therefore, the Committee believes that taking the present economic and financial circumstan- ces, the national consensus and other factors into consideration. relocation of the central func- tions of disaster and emergency management should have priority. Then, the new locations should be decided and other functions should be relocated as well, The Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations is a matter of the greatest importance for the future of the entire nation. Both Diet houses should proceed with discussion in close cooperation, in line with our Interim Re- port.� � � * Proceedings of the Special Committees on Relocations of the National Diet and Related Organiza- tions of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors can be found on the Web page of the Diet Proceeding Retrieval System at http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/.

2 � � � "On-Line Lecture Meetings" Being Held � On-line lecture meetings are being held on MLIT's Web page for the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations. Lecture meetings have been held with intellectuals in various disciplines such as academic and economic sectors and the following lectures were newly added after April.� Please visit the Web page at http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/daishu/online/online_f.html.� � � Mr. Yoshiaki Hoshi, also known as Himekami (Synthesizer player and Composer)� Theme: Capital function relocation, which emphasizes Japan's uniqueness� Main topics� ・ Rhythm of provinces, rhythm of Tokyo� ・ Let's have buildings which seem as if they have grown from the earth� ・ Capital functions which live symbiotically with nature� ・ Japan's unique thinking� � � Professor Muneyuki Shindo (Professor of )� Theme: True decentralization through capital function relocation� Main topics� ・ Decentralized government system must be established through capital function relocation� ・ Relocation of the Diet with the National Athletic Meet system� ・ Tokyo as a business center� ・ Capital functions must be relocated from the crisis manage- ment perspective� � � Professor Juro Teranishi (Professor of the Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University)� Theme: Let's aim at building a new economic system for Japan, which is appropriate for the Age of Regionalism, with the "Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organiza- tions" as a turning point� Topics� ・ The characteristics of the Japanese economic system and its transition� ・ The 21st Century will be the Age of Regionalism again. With the "Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organiza- tions" as a turning point, interfaces must be constructed with local areas as the axes, and the energy of the regions must be regained.� � � Professor Masahisa Fujita (Professor of the Institute of Economic Research, )� Theme: "Abolition of the Center and Creation of Local Regions" must be achieved, and an energetic Japan must be cre- ated.� Topics� ・ Aim at becoming an international innovation center� ・ The key of the 21st Century is diversity. The over-concentra- tion in Tokyo should be corrected and a nation with diversity must be created.� ・ Through the "Relocation of the National Diet and Related Or- ganizations", the "Abolition of the Center and Creation of Local Regions" must be achieved and Japan must regain its energy.

3 � � �"Booklet of On-Line Lecture Meetings on the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations" (Enlarged edition) is published. � The Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations is re- lated to the entire nation, every one of us. In order to translate this plan into reality, extensive national discussion is essential. Therefore, in order to arouse discussion on the matter among a wide variety of people, the Capital Function Relocation Planning Division has been pre- senting On-Line Lecture Meetings, in which leading persons in various sectors of society have delivered lectures on the Internet, since FY 1999.� We have published a collection of 51 lectures, the "Booklet of On- Line Lecture Meetings on the Relocation of the National Diet and Rela- ted Organizations". Ms. Machiko Satonaka, a comic artist, designed the cover of the booklet and also lectured as well. Students at the Nip- pon Charity Kyokai Foundation's Culture School for the Disabled drew the beautiful illustrations in the booklet. The Foundation kindly permit- ted us to use them in the booklet. The booklet will be distributed to a variety of places. If you would like a copy, please contact the address below.

■ Learning on the Relocation is Taking Place around Japan� Five third-year students from Nishiura Junior High School, Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, visited the Capi- tal Function Relocation Planning Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) on May 23 for their school excursion in order to study the Relocation. At first, the staff provided a brief explanation using pamphlets and then the students asked many questions, including the following :� 1. What are the tasks and roles of the MLIT and the Capi- tal Function Relocation Planning Division?� 2. Will the capital be relocated again if the Tokai Earth- quake occurs just after the Relocation?� 3. Will capital functions be relocated to one location or dispersed to several locations?� � ■ Recent Major Activities Related to the Relocation of the National Diet and Related Organizations in Each Region� May 29: Mr. Koichi Hori, the CEO of Dream Incubator, Inc., presented a lecture, "Let's bring about a complete change of heart among people, through capital function relocation", which was held by the Gifu Tono Region Convention for Capital Function Relocation.� � June 6: Eight Prefectural Governors of three candidate sites submitted an appeal to members of both Diet houses, calling for an "establishment of a joint organization of both Diet houses for study on the Relocation" and "prompt decision-making for realizing the capital function relocation".

Accessing Various Information We are Waiting for Your Contact Various information concerning the capital functions Address：Capital Functions Relocation Planning Division, National relocation has been provided on the MLIT Homepage on and Regional Planning Bureau, MLIT� the Internet. Please visit this web-site.� 1-2, 2-Chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8918 Japan� Also if you are interested in items in this leaflet and Homepage：http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/daishu/index.html� others, please let us know. We will pleasingly send E-Mail：[email protected]� related documents to you. We are awaiting your contact. Telephone：+81-3-5253-8366 FAX：+81-3-5253-1573

4